Normally we start the day by reading the OilersNation News Aggregator and seeing what people are talking about all around the league. But today we will hold back because:

a) We hate reading MSM coverage of the Oilers when they lose.
b) We just can’t bring ourselves to read another MacT quote explaining how close it all really was.
c) If we read anyone say, “Oh Sundin got off to a magical start, but it was fellow Graduate of Hogwarts Steve Bernier who performed the real trick scoring twice against his Canadian rivals...” Well, if we read that there would be a lone gunman tearing up Jasper Avenue at about 9:33am this morning. And really, it's too cold for vigilante justice today.

So instead we will not read anything related to the Oilers game. Well, except this post. Which isn’t really about how the Oil gassed one to the Canucks and Mats Sundin is a Golden God descended from Mount Olympus to grace us with his ice hockey skills. His tragic flaw? He will never win a Cup. Oh and he can’t feel true love.

Screw you, Sundin.

Laraque Blogs

For those of you who weren't aware Georges Laraque decided to start blogging over at Sportsnet.ca. This is great news -- except that apparently he didn't clear it with anyone besides Sportsnet.

"Before starting this blog, I just want to let everyone know that this will be my last one. It's unfortunate but it is a team rule that Canadiens players are not allowed to do blogs simply because of the many requests our team gets and it would be unfair to all the other people asking us for similar projects. As you can imagine, when you're a French-Canadian playing in Montréal you get a lot of requests so I agree with the team's decision because this makes it fair for everyone."

He then goes on to break down the fighting code, states fighting is popular (gasp!) describes how fighting has changed and discusses how he used to be nervous before fights. Did we mention he discussed fighting?

Nothing too earth shattering but we all know Monsieur Laraques’ propensity to talk and this blog –- which is gigantic btw -– would sure to have improved.

If only the NHL had any understanding of how to build a brand. NBA players have camera crews following them around 24/7 and players in the NFL have webcams in their bedrooms linked to the team’s official sites. While the other leagues continue to grant unprecedented access to their players the NHL furiously guards its bag of magic beans and boxes everyone out.

Oh OK maybe just one hilarious MacT quote:

“As the game started to elevate, we started to elevate rather than just grabbing that game at the start.” –- Craig MacTavish after the game.

Ah that’s rich.

Photos still coming in

Awhile back we announced a contest asking readers of the Nation to take some game pics and send them in to OilersNation World HQ and Tanning Salon®. We continue to get pics from the games and will be posting them shortly.

“But Wanye you said that you would announce a winner at the end of December! What happened?”

Life happened, you son of a bitch! Ever try and build a 5000-piece Battlestar Galactica puzzle during an Unsolved Mysteries Marathon on Spike? Then check your inbox after every game and see pictures being sent in regularly and you have done nothing to reward the party people? Then people keep ordering T-shirts and you didn’t really give any thought to shipping or handling when you thought of NationGear and now you spend your mornings packaging up T-shirts and the lady at the post office thinks you're into criminal activity because of all the mailing you are doing??

Do you know what pressure feels like!?!?!

Ahem.

Please continue to send your pics of the game, your buddies, the sky or your cat that “looks just like Ales Hemsky.” There is a $75 gift certificate to Hudsons in it for you. We will be posting the pictures shortly.

Oh yeah

You did it Buck75.

Swoon.

Blog so hard motherf**ckers try and find me.
Tweet me @wanyegretz provided it is about Jordan Eberle or babes. Find me on instagram for photos of donairs.

While I would like to take credit for "The Big Sexy One-Puncher" getting to the all star game, our campaign was for him to be in the starting line-up. Unfortunately in the red headed step child Brian Campbell & last years version of Mat$ $undin (Niedermayer) beat us out.

Oh well, at least Souray can say he is there legit - at least CFP didn't get voted in.

As a side note...this "Quote" thing...I JUST found out you can highlight the text you want to quote in someone's post...and THEN hit the Quote link...and I only quotes the highlighted text. That's SOOOOOOO COOOOOOOL! OMGLOLRAFLOLDHNX!

Oooooooh, "Deep Oiling" sounds like the pornographic movie about Northern Alberta's greatest hockey team that was never made.
Now if anyone was to make such a film, I want credit.
And possibly an invitation to witness the filming.
I do love the theatre.

Did anyone listen to post game with how Bob Stauffer completely defended MacT? He used to be worth listening to when he was on THE TEAM, now that he has switched over he goes from a crittic of MacT to one of his biggest supporters. It is so pathetic the way he defends him and his tactics. Sure MacT can dissect the game but can he coach NO, but ask Stauffer and this guy defends him like he's his Biatch. It is so sick how a once popular voice on the TEAM turns 360 and practically wants to bag MacT now....You think Dan (pee wee herman) Tencer made him switch sides? It SICK, Go home Bob(Fred Flintstone)Stauffer, you a joke now

Stauffer works for the Oilers, thus he has to tow the company line. I have heard him critisize aspects of play, but to throw a member of the same organization under the bus would be taboo I would imagine. It has been said on 1260 in the past that "rights holders" are somewhat obligated to tow the line as well. I would rather have the hockey games on a "sports station", but I think that much of the fun of talk radio on the station would be lost if they had the rights.

It has always seemed funny how he became upon the new job. Was it to shut him up? Not that I think he isn't qualified to do the job, but he was able to stir up the emotions of his followers while on 1260. Imagine if he was still doing Total Sports, we would have had the pitchforks & torches out in October marching down to RX1.

Re: Stauffer
If I was offered his job I would have taken it too - that is a dream job if you are a broadcaster I am sure. So in his defence I don't blame him for not wanting to step on toes & ruffle feathers.

It has always seemed funny how he became upon the new job. Was it to shut him up? Not that I think he isn’t qualified to do the job, but he was able to stir up the emotions of his followers while on 1260. Imagine if he was still doing Total Sports, we would have had the pitchforks & torches out in October marching down to RX1.

I thought he was a blowhard who pointed out things like Marty Reasoner was useless, or how if Toby Petersen got one 30 shift on the PP how that was horrible coaching. Many of the anti-MacT people loved it, but his show got boring and sounded the same every day. I still listened because there is no other option at that time, but I will say that I enjoy Gregor's show much more. He calls out the coach at time, but also the players, who I think get a free pass to often. Plus Gregor actually gets good guests on the show. Way more informative show in my opinion, plus Gregor is way more funny. I love it when he rips callers.

As for the rights holders, I don't think you have to cater to the team. In Calgary the Fan 960 rips them, just not every minute of every day. It might be better if the TEAM 1260 had the rights, but right now the best sports show in the city is Just A Game by far, and if they get the rights I'd like to think Gregor wouldn't change? Am I right Jason????

The only people that seriously speak the truth about the Oil are Brownlee, Gregor and Willis.
Oh yeah and Wayne when he graces us with his presence. When I read ones like this I wish you wrote more you lazy bugger.

Your right these great men speak the truth about the Oilers and what the fans are thinking, now only if KATZ would listen and quit living in the past

Lubo71 wrote:
now only if KATZ would listen and quit living in the past

I think Katz acts 12 steps ahead of the pack and doesn't react rashly. He is probably buying a 7 year old in Russia a new house and secret training facility right now so that the Oil have the best secret 9th round draft pick steal of all time in 2020

@ Wanye Gretz:
Yah but the Oilers will still be "a team in transission and MacT will still be coaching with KATZ and the boys listening to the 80's music and wearing old jeans and still living the boys on the bus dream

I hate bad mouthing the Oil, but Jesus F__ing Christ this is rediculous. Please trade away Horcoff, Staios, Pisani, Penner if poss for some hardnose in your face type of players. How long is Katz going to put up with this joke of a team? Oh yeah and Mac-T has to go too, cant motivate the players at all.

I hate bad mouthing the Oil, but Jesus F__ing Christ this is rediculous. Please trade away Horcoff, Staios, Pisani, Penner if poss for some hardnose in your face type of players. blockquote>
If we hate these players so much then what do you expect in return? If we think they cant carry our team do you think someone else will give us some allstar in return? It takes 2 parties to make a trade.

I hate bad mouthing the Oil, but Jesus F__ing Christ this is rediculous. Please trade away Horcoff, Staios, Pisani, Penner if poss for some hardnose in your face type of players. How long is Katz going to put up with this joke of a team? Oh yeah and Mac-T has to go too, cant motivate the players at all.

Everyone has to be willing to accept what will happen if this team is totally gutted. I think that is the fear with the management types. Fans aren't happy unless they are winning 50 or 60 games, but fans wouldn't be happy if we were the NYI either. The continual tinkering of players has totally effed up the team, need a totally new way - not just 1 or 2 players.

How I would love a team like Vancouver...a bunch of plugs, 3 or 4 good players, 1 elite player who play their ASSES off every night. Getting beaten by a team when their "Captain" & best player is hurt is unacceptable.

Yah but the Oilers will still be “a team in transission and MacT will still be coaching with KATZ and the boys listening to the 80’s music and wearing old jeans and still living the boys on the bus dream

Katz hires a new manager - his name is Tambellini. Tambo takes a wait and see approach. He has waited and seen... and now we have to see what he does.

Unfortunately not many teams are moving players so it limits the options.

Fair enough the team is playing like mediocrity in a jar. Anyone in with eyes in their sockets can see that. But would you rather Katz have the team:

a) sign the best player available right now or
b) sign the best player that becomes available in the next 3 years who will lead the team for 10

Similarily would you rather Katz

a) sign the best TSN/Sportsnet analyst around to be the coach right now or
b) position the team to make the best coaching signing possible in the medium term for long term success

I'm not saying this is what he is doing, but a guy with enough foresight to buy a car dealership downtown years ago as part of an alternate site for the arena he plans to build for a team he planned to own seems to have a long term time horizon planning strategy wouldn't you say?

Hugest thing ever

I saw Ethan Moreau at lunch today. He looked at me, I looked at him, he looked away, I continued to stare at him, the host looked at me, the manager asked me to leave.

Since the CBA was changed, Management has tried EVERYTHING possible to give us big name players in an effort to make up for the lean years. They aquired a few big names and handed out big contracts to keep others her. Exactly what we always said we wanted. Only problem was that in an effort to get big names, we had to give up major role player in trade or let them go to make room. So the perfect example is Visnovsky. I friggin love that guy but should that trade have been made? Holy crap we could use Stollie right now. He had heart too. (not that Visnovsky doesn't) It's like when Sather went to NYR. So much money to blow that he forgot to still be responsible. Same as us. Eventually it will even out and we will find that elite mix. I can't even tell if I made any sense.

“As the game started to elevate, we started to elevate rather than just grabbing that game at the start.” Craig Mactavish
Ok Mac T what game are you talking about lasts nights or the previous 38, oh sorry I'm being to hard on Mac T because they played a good opening period against Calgary in the 3rd game of the season. Mac T is the problem, the players attitude is the problem, the fact that they cant break a forecheck, or start one of their own is the problem. They cant kill penalties, but yet cant stay out of the box. The pp is too predictable, "One timer from Souray" or "One timer from Visnovsky". They look like they are playing in quick sand all the time, they dont move their feet, when they get hit they dont hit back. Oh well, at least Nilsson scored so I guess Mac T knows what he's doing afterall.
"Hey Tambellini and Lowe do something before the season is completely lost".

The pp is too predictable, “One timer from Souray” or “One timer from Visnovsky”. They look like they are playing in quick sand all the time, they dont move their feet, when they get hit they dont hit back.

Let me get this straight just to be clear Dennis. You are ragging on the second highest scoring D tandem in the league for being too predictable?

Good heavens man. There are lots of problems but those two aren’t among them.

If you package up players in deals you lose role players. Why else would teams agree to part with the marquee name?

That's exactly my point. Everybody says get Kovalchuk or Spezza and trade Horcoff and Souray. It's always the same. This team has BIG names on paper but we are missing something. It's a friggin fine line.

This team has BIG names on paper but we are missing something. It’s a friggin fine line.

You are bang on. Look at T Bay and Pittsburgh now. Big names, no wins. The only blueprint to success is the Red Wings model of having their European Scouts intimidate the Central Scouting Staff so they can snag the Zetterbergs of the world WAY later than they should then somehow trick them into signing for less than market value.

ha and they have a guy named... Cleary? I swear to you that I remember a guy by that name that used to play for the Oilers and a lot of people always said he was useless and wanted to get rid of him. weird.